In recent years, I’ve grown increasingly interested in pop from other countries, including songs in foreign languages. While a lot of foreign music has strong American influences, I love to get a taste of what young people in other places listen to. Below I’ve listed some of my personal favorite foreign language artists and their best songs. The list I’ve chosen will hopefully encourage you to listen to music in a broader ranges of languages.
Cro
In Europe, German rap music is often as ubiquitous as American music. In particular, Cro is one of the most successful German rappers in Germany and Austria. He brings his own style to the table, which ranges from poppy upbeat songs to more unique rap, in a style he calls “raop” (rap and pop). Below are two of his best German songs:
“Easy”: Both confident and laid back, it’s no wonder this hit dominated German language music world in 2012. While a relatively old German pop song, it’s appeal still stands. The fluid and playful rhythm of his rap and beat is complemented with a refreshing chorus.
“Traum”: More pop than rap, “Traum” draws influences from modern American pop music with heavy sax and a prominent beat. Energetic, grooving, and cheerful, “Traum” creates an excellent feel good song (even if you can’t understand what he’s saying).
Jóipé
Believe it or not, the 300,000 thousand person island of Iceland has a thriving hip hop scene. A stand out amongst the young artists is Jóipé, who recently collaborated with his fellow Icelandic rapper Kroli on the album “GerviGlingur” released in September. Below are two of his best songs in Icelandic:
“Oh S**t” (in collaboration with Kroli): “Oh S**t” is simply a hype song. Króli, who collaborated on the album with Jóipé, described the lively song as having “the stupidest title ever. It’s a good party song, very short, good bass. No further explanation.” (Reykjavik Grapevine, September 2017)
“Eg Vil Það” (in collaboration with Chase): Unlike most of Jóipé’s songs and the hip hop that dominates Iceland music scene, “Ég Vil Það” is much more melody focused. Peppy, but also earthy, you may find yourself singing along to words you don’t understand.
Dean
Korean alternative R&B artist Dean creates distinctive, chill music heavily influenced by American R&B. Unlike other Korean R&B artists, Dean has intentionally gained recognition in both the American and Korean music scenes through collaborations with artists from both countries. Below are two of his best songs in Korean:
“Instagram”: Acoustic, tender, and relaxing, “Instagram” is the perfect chill song. Influenced by Brazilian Bossa Nova music, the song is dreamy and ideal for relaxing by the fire or doing your homework.
“21”: This pop song flows effortlessly between breezy verses and a spirited chorus. A cool combination of English and Korean lyrics makes for a Bruno Mars-like R&B pop song.
Ana Tijoux
French-Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux raps about political issues in her stand out album 1977. Her music is both full of meaning, and also with a great beat. She’s gained international acclaim, winning both Grammys and Latin Grammys. Below are two of stand out songs:
“1977”: Discussing her escape from the dictatorship of Pinochet, the song’s lyrics are both substantial and emotional. “1977” is a powerful mix of rap, beat, and guitar.
“Shock”: a critique of the Chilean political elite, “Shock” is relevant all over the world. Shock has a robust beat complemented by Ana Tijoux’s clear and resonant rap style.
Gqom
Gqom isn’t an artist, but a music style from Durban, South Africa. Arising from the lower income neighborhoods of Durban in the 2010’s gqom is a style of house music. Gqom is marked by being a more minimal version of house with definite tribal influences. Below are two songs that are great introductions to the genre:
“Omunye” by Distruction Boyz: Deep, slow bass with an upbeat tribal-influenced rhythm, “Omunye” is a classic gqom song. It mixes light synthesizers, repetitive vocals, and rhythm to create a dynamic and hooking song
“Umangan’wami” by Babes Wodumo: You may know her from her feature on the Black Panther album, and Babes Wodumo is a talented artist in her own right. The “Queen of Gqom”’s hit “Umangan’wami” is characterized by voices that make the complex beat, and Babes Wodumo’s powerful and resonant voice, which creates a rich and splashy song.
